Assam's Hindu body threatens road blockade against Meghalaya if ban on worship at Mawjymbuin Cave not lifted

Assam-based Hindu organisation Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP), on August 6 threatened a road blockade against Meghalaya after Hindu devotees were banned from offering prayers at the Mawjymbuin Cave in the state.

The Mawsynram Dorbar Shnong had banned Hindu devotees from offering prayers at the cave last week. The Mawjymbuin cave is famous for its natural stone structure which the Hindu faithful believes is a 'Shiva Linga'.

Addressing a press conference at Guwahati Press Club on August 6, KSP president Satya Ranjan Borah sought a response from the Meghalaya state authority. He stated, “We need the answer from the Meghalaya state authority. Else, the Meghalaya government will face sincere protest here in Assam; may be situations like blockage of the roads to Meghalaya via Jorabat (Guwahati); Paikan (Goalpara) and all other roads.”

He further added, “We are just giving our reactions to their anti-Hindu actions. If we will have to initiate the action; they will not get the time to even react."

Urging the state to withdraw the ban immediately, Borah said that the office of the Prime Minister of India and the office of the Secretary General of the United Nations should ask the Chief Minister of Meghalaya to clear the stand of their government. He urged that the state must make proper arrangements to offer prayers by the Hindus on the occasion of the sacred month of Shravana.

Borah said, “Mawjymbuin Cave consists of a naturally formed Shiv Ling, which had been a place of worship and sadhana for Hindus living in Meghalaya. A large number of Lord Shiva devotees visit the place to perform their Hindu rituals every year, especially in the month of Shravan."

“It has been noticed that a major section of people belong to the Christian community and some so-called social organization of Meghalaya, ruled by the Christian Missionaries, imposed ban on Hindu worship over there. Is this a joke?” he questioned.

Furthermore, he asked, “In a democratic and cultured nation like India, do you think this should happen; should we entertain or tolerate this kind of anti-cultured activities? What is the Meghalaya government doing there? Are they not following the Constitution of India? Is the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, all other state administrators and state stakeholders being directed by the Christian missionaries to do be quiet here."

He also said that the Kamakhya Temple is a divine Hindu worshipping place in Assam like Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain (MP) and Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh which also form the basis of tourism. “Then, why cannot the Mawjymbuin Cave be a place of tourism after being a divine worshipping place of Hindus? I think that it’s not a matter of tourism, it is a matter of conspiracy of Christian Missionaries to defame and destroy the Hindu faith and culture in the state of Meghalaya; and accordingly devalue the Constitution of India,” he reasoned.

Taking note of the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, the Hindu leader said that it is unfortunate to see this kind of jihadi activity performed under the umbrella of Islam in Bangladesh. “Jihadis from Islamic radicalized Jamaat-e-Islami, with the help and support of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have been killing the Hindus, putting fire on the houses and temples of Hindus in different places of Bangladesh,” he said.

Borah said the killing and torture of Hindus in Bangladesh is not new. It has been a long affair and it has been a curse of being a Hindu in Bangladesh. “Be safe and let your neighbours to be safe. Be kind and let your neighbours be kind. Else, we will be sorry. If any further torture on the Hindus in Bangladesh is reported, then we would not be responsible for the possible damage to be done with the families here belonging to the same Jihadi Umbrella,” the Hindu leader also said.

“We sincerely urge the office of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Guwahati to talk to their counterparts and to stop the massacre of Hindus in Bangladesh with immediate effect. Else, the human civilization will lose their values, and the new generation may live in bloodshed like animals,” he added.

“We Hindus respect the religion and faith of others and we want the same. But, it’s very unfortunate to experience the brutality on Hindus in an Islamic state like Bangladesh and Pakistan,” he said.

“We would like to request the office of the Prime Minister of India and the Secretary General of the United Nations to kindly look into the matter and take necessary action at the earliest,” he further added.